Local property taxes fund a substantial portion of public education in Texas today. Asthe Texas Legislature provides property tax relief, a new source of education revenuemust be found. This report examines the viability of creating a payroll tax to fundTexas public schools. Payroll taxes, the author finds, have proven damaging tobusinesses, employees, and citizens – increasing the cost of doing business, reducingemployment, depressing wages, reducing economic competiveness, and obstructingeconomic growth.
Amarillo teachers make the most of high-quality instructional materials
At Eastridge Elementary School, Principal Genie Baca’s teachers have enough challenges. Their students are mostly refugees, recent immigrants from countries such as Somalia, Yemen, Vietnam and Burma, among many others. The parents are often shift workers at local meatpacking or poultry processing facilities, meaning that no one’s home to ensure the children are fed and...